One is 25% interest in license PL672 containing the Snømus prospect, 7 km (4.3 mi) from the Talisman-operated Varg field and associated FPSO facilities. The other is a 20% stake in PL019C containing the Kark prospect, 7 km from the Gyda platform.

Ithaca expects a well to be drilled on Snømus in 2015, followed by a well on Kark in 2016.

In the UK northern North Sea, Ithaca expects production to resume soon from the Fionn field, which has been shut in due to a gas hydrate in the subsea line connecting the field to the main Causeway flowline.

The Fionn side track has been completed along with platform modification works to allow start-up of the electrical submersible pumps installed in the Causeway field and Fionn production wells. Water injection is expected to begin later this month on Causeway.

Elsewhere in this region, Ithaca says, operator Petrofac has completed drilling on the Don Southwest TJ infill production well. Following installation of a spool piece between the wellhead and the existing drilling center manifold the well should enter production in September.

As for Ithaca’s Greater Stella Area development in the UK northern North Sea, installation of the mid-water arch (over which the risers and umbilicals will be laid) will now be completed next year, along with the oil export pipeline and associated single anchor loading (SAL) system.

This has been done to accommodate Technip’s vessel availabilities and to take advantage of operational synergies ahead of the arrival of theFPF-1 semisubmersible platform at the field location.